Mountain lions have recently resettled in the Pine Ridge and Niobrara River Valley regions of Nebraska and are dispersing into other areas with similar habitats. The distributions of mountain lions have been seen throughout the state, including agricultural areas where habitats may be limited. The state has approved Nebraska’s first mountain lion harvest for the year 2014, which will provide hunting opportunities for huntsmen. This harvest is a tragedy for the animal world.

The public believes that the mountain lion hunt is needed because of the risk of danger to small children. They are afraid that a mountain lion will wander into residential streets and attack people. However, numerous animal conservation groups say that there is no legitimate reason to ever hunt these animals. Because of their quiet and secretive nature, they hardly ever come into contact or interact with humans. These hunts are based on the fear that they will attack humans, but that is a very rare case. Instead, mountain lions are a beneficial addition to ecosystems because they are apex predators. They prey on small animals and keep a balanced population for other animals without the need for human interference.

By keeping the mountain lions, the ecosystem of Nebraska will be more natural, stronger, and controlled. Please sign this petition to tell Nebraska that a mountain lion harvest is unnecessary.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Governor Heineman,

Mountain lions are known to populate specific areas of Nebraska throughout the year. One specific site, Pine Ridge, houses about 20 mountain lions. Unfortunately, because of their large number, Nebraska has proposed a hunting season to reduce that number.

We feel that this proposed hunt is not only unnecessary, but it will also hurt your ecosystem. Mountain lions are a very important part of the animal world. They help keep a healthy and natural ecosystem and keep the environment regulated and not overpopulated with animals. In fact, mountain lions especially prey on deer, which are more problematic because humans encounter them often in residential areas.

Mountain lions are an important part of the world. Even if your state is experiencing a large quota of the animal, it does not give you the right to kill them. Please take these mountain lion facts under serious consideration.

Since when is 20 cats evidence of a large population!.. Seriously!… If you feel that there I too many in one area ! Why don’t you help recolonize then by trapping and letting them loose in another area or other state even?!..makes too much sense…. If people overpopulate a city nobody exactly takes action to their own hands for population control do they??, they allow them to live there, they all make do. People will move on eventually, well guess what so will these animals!..